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Nairobi, airport - taxi to hotel, safe?

I have read horror stories about Nairobi. I will probably fly to Nairobi to begin my trip to the region. Due to flight schedules I will have to spend one night in Nairobi, I will fly out the next day to Rwanda or Uganda for gorilla trekking. Is it safe to take a taxi from the airport in Nairobi? Can anybody please let me know if there is a hotel at the airoort, I haven't found one right at the airport.

We have only been thru Nairobi once & arranged the taxi via the B&B that we stayed at. Our first choice of hotel was full so we stayed at Ndemi Place which was very nice, not too far from the airport. The driver was very good & we felt safe & used him to get around Nairobi to see the elephant orphanage & giraffe house. Also used him to take us to local restaurant & back.

There's no hotel right at the airport. There used to be a Sleep and Shower facility but I believe that has closed.

Ole Sereni and Panari are a couple of hotels that are reasonably close. Both are off of Mombasa Road on the way toward the city center.

I've also stayed at the former Holiday Inn which has a nice garden setting. However it's in Westlands which is northwest of the city center so not really close to the airport which is southeast of the city center. It's only 20 min to the airport when there's little to no traffic. Otherwise it can take more than an hour. Similarly, Ndemi Place is located west of the city. If you stay at either of these, allow plenty of time to get back to the airport depending on the day and time of your flight.

You can ask your accommodation to arrange a taxi for you or you can prebook one online with one of the local taxi companies. http://www.jimcab.co.ke/ is one that I've used.

Ole Sereni Hotel is about a 10-minute taxi ride from the airport and is supposed to cost about $25. Another hotel close by is The Boma Hotel and it gets great reviews. It's actually owned by the Kenya Red Cross and any profits fund their humanitarian projects. One taxi company recommended is KAA Yellow Cabs. After collecting your bags, but before leaving the Arrivals Hall, look for their desk, which should be labeled "KAA AIRPORT YELLOW TAXIS. LIMOUSINE SERVICE." By booking your taxi here, rather than taking one out at the curb, you'll be using an authorized company and shouldn't be overcharged.

There are a few hotels about 15 minutes drive from the Airport, the budget hotels are Mvuli House and Red Court hotel, the more luxury are Ole Sereni, Panari, The Boma and Eka Hotel. Taxi's are available at the airport on exit, but it is better you make arrangements prior to your arrivel.

Panari and Ol Sereni are rather expensive, but depends on your budget. The newest nice hotel on this same road is the EKA that gets good reviews, but also not inexpensive.

Depending on departure time next morning, many choose to go into CBD for stay at the Fairview with good rates or their sister hotel, the Country Lodge... a bit more basic, but clean and all amenities and you can use all the facilities of the Fairview.

If travel back to airport happens to be a Sunday morning... little if any traffic to anywhere - everyone seems to be in church. Otherwise, traffic starts to build from 6am, so if you can depart from wherever at 5:30am you'd likely be fine.

The three taxis listed are long/well established and reliable. You can prebook with any and fare should be about USD$20-25 one way, payable preferably in Kenyan Shillings (Ksh) which you can withdraw from ATM in Arrivals Hall once you've collected your bags.

IMPORTANT - Nairobi is nowhere near as scary as reports. It's like most other large cities anywhere... crowded, dirty, noisy.

Panari and Ol Sereni are rather expensive, but depends on your budget. The newest nice hotel on this same road is the EKA that gets good reviews, but also not inexpensive.

Depending on departure time next morning, many choose to go into CBD for stay at the Fairview with good rates or their sister hotel, the Country Lodge... a bit more basic, but clean and all amenities and you can use all the facilities of the Fairview.

If travel back to airport happens to be a Sunday morning... little if any traffic to anywhere - everyone seems to be in church. Otherwise, traffic starts to build from 6am, so if you can depart from wherever at 5:30am you'd likely be fine.

The three taxis listed are long/well established and reliable. You can prebook with any and fare should be about USD$20-25 one way, payable preferably in Kenyan Shillings (Ksh) which you can withdraw from ATM in Arrivals Hall once you've collected your bags.

IMPORTANT - Nairobi is nowhere near as scary as reports. It's like most other large cities anywhere... crowded, dirty, noisy.